Tuition and semester contributions are different
DAAD currently states that Bachelor's programs and most Master's programs at state higher education institutions generally do not charge tuition. Students still pay a semester contribution, which DAAD currently describes as varying by institution and covering student services and related costs.
There are important exceptions. DAAD notes that Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester for many degree programs, and institutions in Bavaria may charge tuition to non-EU/EEA international students depending on the university and program. Private institutions can also charge substantially more.
Application route: check the university first
uni-assist evaluates international applications for participating German universities, but it is not the application route for every institution. Its official process is to get information, plan the application, assemble documents, apply online, pay fees, then send and track. Program-specific criteria still come from the chosen university.
Plan enough time
uni-assist's current processing guidance says applications are normally evaluated in roughly four to six weeks, with regional variations and possible longer cases. That is a reason to avoid treating the university's final deadline as the day to start preparing the application.
What Scholar should verify next
- Whether the exact program uses uni-assist, a VPD or a direct university application.
- Program language and academic prerequisites.
- Current semester contribution and any tuition exception.
- Current deadline for the applicant type and intake.
- Funding or scholarship terms separately from low tuition.